Bandipur forest fire: Getting supplies to fire fighters proves difficult

This is not the first time that fires on an unprecedented scale have engulfed Karnataka Forests. Almost always fires set off others and containment becomes difficult. Previously in 2014 fires in the Nagarahole National Park and Bandipur Tiger Reserve had destroyed nearly 1,600 acres of shrub land and that too on the same day.

In the case of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve fire this year, it happened in quick succession. Hardly had one place been contained, than another started.

Also read:  Two fires break out in Bandipur reserve, NASA imagery captures extent

This time along with the forest, even the forest officers and fire fighters need help. According to a report in The Hindu, providing essentials like food and water to the personnel of guards and watchers deployed deep in Bandipur Forest is proving to be quite a task.

While these men are trying to contain the fire, reaching them with emergency equipment and water is the logistical challenge, vegetation in the inner areas of the forest is almost next to bare and the lack of water in the natural bodies in the forest is also hindering help.

The cause for worry being that without essentials, the men could become dehydrated because of the heat generated from the fire. The Hindu report also cites how 25-litre cans of water, fruits and food items are being supplied in batches of 50.

Also ringing alarm bells at the state of affairs is an appeal sent by  PCCF (Wildlife) to the public and other NGOs citing that the ‘Bandipur fire is turning out to be complex day by day’, reports The Hindu.

The magnitude of these fires were such that Karnataka was back in the news for having the most of number of fires in the country and major ones that have been even captured via satellites.  

• Bandipur Forest fire
• Bandipur fire
• no water